Automatic bag top forming and sewing apparatus



AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1961 Feb. 2, 1965 F. L. HOPKINS ETAL 12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Y lP/Cl/HIFD It Areas I B F/PJ/VK L/kPk/ws QWN Feb. 2, 1965 F. L. HOPKINS ETAL 7 AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov 2, 1961 m HN h 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 S B m mmn m Hhdl m. m N

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AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORJ lP/clmeo bf Areas BY filM/vk 4 //0PK//YS Arum/5y:

Hum/W Feb. 2, 1965 F. L. HOPKINS ETAL 3,167,397

AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 2, 1961 INVENTORS 160/020 IX flykzs BY famk Z. Ham m:

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Feb. 2, 1965 F. 1.. HOPKINS ETAL 3,167,897

AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 2, 1961 II II |I\ll n II H II II fl $3 W. mm m m W.% 2%

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Feb. 2, 1965 F. L. HOPKINS ETAL 3,167,897

AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 40s 4 INVENTORS P101420 ft 47255 F 1' C1 5. .15 BY fiMA/K Z. flop/0M5 Feb. 2, 1965 F. 1... HOPKINS ETAL 7, 7

AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 2, 1961 Feb. 2, 1965 F. HOPKINS ETAL 3,167,897

AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FQRMING AND SEWING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1961 l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIE .25

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INVENTORS Arm/aways Feb. 2, 1965 F. L. HOPKINS ETAL 3,167,897

AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND sswzuc APPARATUS 12 sheets-sheet 10 Filed NOV. 2, 1961 INVENTOIIQS has 4x0 2% Areas BY i'ZW/VA JHLNUM Feb. 2, 1965 F. 1.. HOPKINS ETAL 3,

AUTOMATIC BAG TOP FORMING AND SEWING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 am 42p Ii 47255 BY fka/vx 1. flop/01v:

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United States Patent ice 3,167,897 AUTQMATEC BAG Till. FGRMHQG AND SEWENG AFPARATUS Frank L. Hopkins and Richard l-I..Ayres, Minneapolis,

Minn, assignors to Eemis Bro. Eag Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of htissouri Filed Nov. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 149,773

' Claims. (6i. 53-139} This invention relates to new and novel apparatus for automatically shaping a bag top of a filled bag and providing a sewed closure after the bag top has been shaped. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus for automatically'conveying a filled bag from a filling machine, forming and positioning a bag top for sewing, and passing the formed bag top through a sewing machine, all without the aid of an operator. I

To increase production in providing sewed bag top closures with the minimum of manual operations in shaping and positioning a bag top of a filled bag, particularly when the bag top is to be provided with a sewed tape closure, the art has been faced with the problem of providing mechanism that would automatically form a gusseted bag top and properly align the bag top in a level condition to have the sewed tape closure provided thereon. Further, with apparatus of the prior art it has not been possible to properly form and align a bag top for sewing operations as the bag is moved along the conveyer at the required speed for high speed operations. In order to overcome problems of the aforementioned nature, this invention has been made.

In is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for automatically shaping a bag top preparatory to forming a bag top closure and then sewing the bag top as the bag is being continuously advanced on a conveyer. further object of this invention is to provide new. and

novel apparatus which is readily useable with various types of filling equipment for automatically shaping a bag top and providing the bag with the bag top closure. It is a still further object of this invention to provide new and novel apparatus for receiving a filled bag from the :,l6?,7 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 a v elevation and level condition and thence retain the bag top in the leveled condition as the bag is being continuously advanced relative to said assembly. A still further object of this invention is to provide a bagtop leveler and holding assembly for automatically leveling the bag top to't'he proper elevation to have a sewed tape closure provided thereon as the bag is being advanced by suitable supporting mechanism.

Still another object of, this invention is to provide in bag top forming and sewing apparatus having a conveyor for supportedly moving a bag, a new and novel bag top forming assembly that is operable for forming a gusseted bag top on one bag and a new and novel second assembly that'at the same time automatically levels the bag top of a second bag and retains it in a leveled condition so as to be properlypositioned for sewing operation independent of the operation of the gusset forming assembly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for automatically carrying out the aforementioned objectives at high speeds. Another object of this'invention is to provide a mechanisrnfor automatically shaping bag top for forming a bag top closure on flat tube bags.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described and claimed and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises features herein after fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of various'ways in which the principles of this invention may be employed.

- i The invention is illustrated by reference to the drawings in which the same numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front side elevational View of the apparatusj of this invention shown in conjunction with bag scaling and filling apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is aplan view invention; 1.

"FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional of v the apparatus of this view taken along 'the line and in the direction of the scale type filling; apparatus and moving the filled bag v through-a bag top forming operation and thence -advanc-.

ing the formed bag top through a bag top sewing opera tion without the aid of an operator. Still another object of this invention is to provide new and novel: apparatus for forming a bag top and providing a bag topclosure that may be tape. over sewing,' tape.under sewing, or

Still another object of this invention is to provide in bag top forming and sewing apparatus, anew and novel .V-shapedc'onveyer assembly which maybe-adjusted for maintaining the tops'of various runs of diiferent height bags at a given height, and properly positioning the'bag" topfor a forming and sewing operation.

A still further-object of this invention is to provide in automatic bag top forming and sewing apparatus, anew and novel assembly for automatically forming gussets in a filled bag and closing the bag topas the bag is being continuously advanced in a given direction. Still another object of this invention is to provide in; automatic bag top forming and sewing apparatus, a new and novel gusset forming assembly that will first shape a bag top to have a rectangular planconfiguration and thence close thebag top in a manner to form gussets thereon. Still another object of this invention is to provide in the aforementioned type apparatus agusset forming assembly that will at least in partmove an individual bag to a more nearly vertical condition as the gussets are being formed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a: new and novel bag top leveling and holding assembly for generally taken along the line andin the direction of .the i forcing the upper edges of the bag top'to a predetermined arrows 33 of FIGURE 17 to more clearly illustrate the adjustable; mounting feature of the side beltsub-assembliss and the mounting of the photo relay light'emitting FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, somewhat perspective view of the structure of FIGURE 4 in a position justprior to the time-that the gusset formers are removed from,

the shaped bag top, and also illustrating the bag top creasing assembly. I i

FIGURE6 is a fragmentary view, part in cross section,

arrow 6-6 of FIGURE Z to more clearly illustrate the structure for operating the gusset formers between the.

datum position and the position in which the gussets have been formed, said view showing the gusset formers in the position in which the gussets have been formed, and the and inthe direction of the arrows 7-.7 of FIGURE 6- I and showing part of the elements of FIGURE 6 in cross section. Portions of gusset former operating structure on the back side ofthe gusset former assembly are not illustrat e d I FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the rear end portion of the. mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 7, said view being genend view of the mechformers at an elevation viewillpstrating the relative positions of the gusset formers in FIGURE 1.

erally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 88 of FIGURE 7 to illustrate the structure for moving the inside gusset formers between a transverse spread apart position, and a position closely adjacent one another and .the, mechanism for adjustably longitudinally pos'itioninglone set of gusset formers relative to the other set; i I

FIGURE 9 is a verticalside view taken along the line and lookingin the direction of the arrows 9 9 of FIG- URES to more clearly show the mounting of one set of gusset formers and the structure for transversely spreading the, direction of the arrows 11+11 "of FIGUREplO'toillustrate the structures formoving the swinging guide assembly between a transverse spread apart condition and a positipn closely adjacent one another, and to show some ptthestructure for operating the gusset former cams;

FIGURE 12 is ahorizontalview of the bag top creasi-ng assembly, said view being generally taken along the line and in a direction of the arrows l2l2 of FIGURE landgshowing portions of the intermeshing drive sprockets broken away to-more'clearly illustrate other portions of said assembly;

FIGURE 13' is ahorizontal view of the bag top holding subassembly, said view (part in cross section) being erally taken along the line and looking in a direction bfl e a r ws 3 of F GURE 4;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary-vertical side view of the 7 bag topleveler holding assembly andlthe sewing machine;

FIGURE .15 is anenlarged cross sectional end 'view'of 1 mm; ri l fil r and h d n a s m said view being generally taken alon g the line and inthe direction of the arrows ,1 5 15 of FIGURE '13 FIGUREHI 6 is an, enlarged fragmentary top view of the described other than to mention that it is of the variety on which an empty bag is manually positioned on the hopper spout 12 and thereafterreleasably held onthe single revolution clutch and the drive mechanism of the pain'iage control arm, said -view in part ,shown in cross section, andbeing generally taken along the line and look inginithe .directionaof thearrows +16 of FIGURE 17;

FIGUKEI'I- is .a back side vertical elevational viewot the ,apparatus'of this invention, said-view showingv poritio'nsofthe'ap'paratus. brokeni away; a r1 8 .and'l9. together show a schematic diagram of the electric and pneumatic components and circuitry for tl 1 e,,;apparatus.of.this invention, said view also diagrammatically -illustrating some portions of vthe structure t is th 9 m; 2

FIGUREZO isla fragmentary perspective :view of the sics d t r t formersupon' havingi shaped the bag ta gular'configuratiomand I is'ja horizontal view. through the gusset just above the top ofthe bag, said FIGURE 21 snppor 411 211} upright; opened condition, and in particularw th bags, of sizes tohold 25, and 100 pound charges.

:N ow referring in particular to FIGURES l, 2 and Y17, there isil-lustrateda front side view, a plan' view, and a back .side' view respectively of the automatic, bag top formerzzand filling apparatus, generally designated It), of

this invention, The machine 16 has been invented. to be us'edin conjunction with' an automatic bag scale andfillapparatus, for example, with apparatus 11 asillustrated The apparatus 11 will .not'be further gusset ior ners, said view illustrating the posispout by jaws 13 which are located on either side of the spout, there being switch mechanism for controlling the operation of the apparatus 11,3 Once'the empty bag has been clamped to the spout of machine 11,"1't automatically weighsthe desired charge to be filled in the bag 15 and drops the filled'bag on the back end of the conveyor assembly 29 of the automatic bag top former sew ng machine it Although the scale and filling machine'll illustrated is.

the type which bags are manually position on hopper spout, it is to, be understood that the automatic bag top former sewing apparatus lG c an equally as well be used in conjunction with an Automatic Bag Feeding Machine ,suchas disclosedin the copending application of Jack 'D. Helm and Frank L. Hopkins, Ser.-No .1806,955,'nowPat ent No. 3,050,918, that picks up an unopened bag from a bag magazine, next opens and positions the opened bag on a hopper spout assembly, thence discharges a'weighed charge into the bag and finally after carrying the bag to a position above a V-trough'conveyor assembly dropsthe filled bag into said conveyor assembly The aforementioned application of Jack DiHelm and Frank L. Hopkins is assignedto the same assignee of this application 'If the automatic bag top former and filling apparatus of this invention is used in conjunction with a machine such as disclosed by the aforementioned application of I -Iopkins et al., the bag pickup, opening, filling, bag top forming, andsewing operations are completely, automatic and therefore preferable over the use o'i the combination of the machine of this invention and the automatic bag scale and filling machine ll illustrated in FIGURE l.

The automatic bag top formeriand sewing machine 10 of this invention includes a frame generally designated 16, a V-trough conveyorvassembly generallydesignated 20 mounted on said frame, and extending the length thereofpa side belt conveyor assembly generally designated 21 that is mounted above and extends substantially the length of the co'nveyor assembly 20, a gussetforrnerassembly generally designatedZZ mounted on the upperlback end'portion of the frame, a swinging guide assembly generally designated 23 mounted adjacent'the trol mechanism (generally designated ZS- ier controlling the-operation of "the aforementioned assemblie'sf For purposes of facilitatingthedescription of the machine 10, the end of,thefconveyorfassembly 20 beneatlifth'e' and matic bag sc'ale andsewing machine 11 is considered the back gend of the machine while the end beneath-the sewing machine assembly 26 is referred to as the frontend of the machine' The direction of movement of the bags,

on the conveyor assembly 20is considered'the longi tudinal direction while'the direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction will be'refe'rred to asfa transverse direction. v

Fram'e.The frame 16 includes a pair of-transverse- 1y spaced from end uprights 30,=each;"of which has lower ends ,ithereofzvsecured' 'to :the respective longitudinallybase member 31 .by a bracket 32; and a pair of- I transversely spaced back end uprights33 secured to the respective oppositeends Qf sald bt lsfl member's. Parallel" longitudinal channel irons 36ers secured at their end pos tionsto the top end portion of,therespectivenpright while an intermediate longitudinal charinelf'iron-M isprovided on either side and secured af its 'opp'ositeends to the ad acent upright. On either-transverse'side offthe machine 10,121 vertical brace 38'Iatone end is secured 92 is likewise welded to channel iron front side of the machine.

enema? the opposite end to a channel-iron 36. Spaced rearwardly of brace 38 and on the back side of the machine is a vertical brace 29 that likewise is secured to the adjacent members 36, 37.

As may be noted in FIGURE 2, a backend cross brace 39 at either end is welded to the adjacent top brace 36 and upright 33 while spaced, parallel, intermediate cross braces 40, 50 and 53 are welded to intermediate portions of the respective channel irons 36. Welded to braces 50, 53 land the channel irons 35 is a horizontal plate 114. A front end cross bracedl is secured at either end to a juncture of upright with top brace 36, there being a horizontal angle iron located beneath brace 36 and secured to the uprights 3tland a second angle iron 42 at the same elevation welded to a vertical brace 38.

A longitudinally extending vertical plate 52 is boltedto adjacent portions of the front side channel iron 37 and uprights 3t} and 31 while a vertical plate 91 of relatively short'longitudinal length is Welded to adjacent portions of the back side upright 33, brace 37 and lower longitudinal brace 3'9; brace 99 extending between and being welded to uprights 3i) and 33. A forward vertical plate 7 37, upright 33 and brace 99.

V-trough conveyor assembly.-The V-trough conveyor assembly 2% includes a generally rectangular shaped base made up of a pair of longitudinal channel irons 45a and a pair of transverse channel irons 4 b. Mounted at each corner of the base 45 is a pulley support 4-6 having a drum pulley 47 journalled thereon. A V-shaped roller mounting frame 48 is mounted to extend between the drum pulleys at either end 'ofthe base, said frame mounting a plurality of rollers for supporting the upper run of each of the transversely inclined belts 49, there being a belt extended over each of the pair of drums 47 on either transverse side of the base 45. A plurality of rollers 51 are mounted on the roller mounting frame 48 for supporting the lower runof the respective belts, the roller mounting frame being mounted on a plurality of brackets 52 which in turn are bolted to the respective channel irons 45a in longitudinal space relationship.

A longitudinally elongated bracket 55 is secured to each end of thechannel irons 45a in depending relationship thereto, each bracket having an elongated slot 55a for slidably mounting a stud shaft so that is mounted on the outer end of the respective crank arm 57. T he opposite end of each crank arm is keyed to one of the two transverse shafts 58, each shaft being journalled for rotation in a pair of plates 59 secured to the respective upright mounting bracket. The shafts 58 are located more closely adjacent, onelanother than the stud shafts 56 at the opposite ends of the frame 45. v

One end of the operator arm 60 is keyed to each of the shafts 58, there being operator arms only on the The opposite end of each operator arm is clevised and has pivotally connected thereto aninternally threaded sleeve 61. I

- Mounted on the front bottom brace 31 is a vertical- 1y extending plate that-journals shaft 66 having a, hand wheel 69 keyed thereto. The inner end of the shaft 66 extends into a housing (notshown) mounted on the plate'65, the housing journalling for rotation a pair of short longitudinal shafts that have keyed thereto beveled gears that are driven by a'beveled gear mounted on the inner end of the shaft 66 (said beveled gears and longitudinal shafts not shown). To the outer end of each longitudinal shaft there is secured-one member of universal joints I75, the other member of each universal joint being bolted to the inner end of a longitudinal rod 76. Each longitudinal rod hasv a threaded outer end portion having threads that form a, matching fit with the threads of the-respective sleeve 61. I

By turning the hand wheel 69 in one direction, both same construction, the structure of the sub-assembly 81 held against transverse movement therein.

6 of the rods '76 are rotated in the same direction. However, since the threads on the two rods as mounted on the machine are pitched in opposite directions, the sleeves 61 are simultaneously moved in opposite directions. Assuming the hand wheel is turned to cause the sleeve to move inwardly towards one another, then the front operator arm 60 is caused to be rotated in the direction of the arrow about the axis of shaft 58 which in turn rotates a front shaft 58 and the crank arms thereon in the same direction. This results in the front stud bolts being moved arcuately'rearwardly and forwardly, and in sliding in the slots 55a forces the front end of the frame to be elevated. Likewise the back sleeve 61 in moving toward the hand wheel results in the back end of the frame being elevated.

Side belt conveyor assembly-The side belt conveyor assembly 21 includes two side belt conveyor sub-assemblies that are of the same construction other than they are oppositely faced, one sub-assembly being designated a left-hand conveyor belt sub-assembly 80 and the other being a right-hand conveyor belt sub-assembly 31 (see FEGURES 1, 3, l7 and 19). Thesubassemblies 8t) and 31 are mounted on the frame in a manner such that they may be adjusted relative to one another to vary the transverse spacing therebetween, the sub-assemblies being located above the ti-trough conveyor assembly and extending as shown in FIGURE 1. A

Since basically the sub-assemblies 8t and 81 are of the and the mounting thereof will first be described. Referring in particular to FIGURE 3, it is to be noted that the sub-assembly 81 has a roller mounting sub-frame that includesa pair of longitudinally spaced, vertical blocks 34 (only one being shown). A longitudinally extending top'reinforcing plate is secured to the top portions of the blocks 84 while a second-reinforcing plate 85 is secured to the bottom portions of the blocks. Bolted to the top reinforcing plate and extending transversely outwardly thereof is a roller mounting member 82. A lower mounting plate 83 is bolted to the lower plate 85, the plates 82 and $3 mounting a plurality of vertically elongated rollers $6 and 87. i

To the mid-portion or each block 84 there issecured a block $8 that mounts an internally threaded sleeve 93, the threaded end portion of a transverse shaft 89 being located in each sleeve. The opposite end of each shaft 89 is iournalled for rotation in an annular retainer 9i? but is The front retainer 9% is mounted on the front plate 92 and extends through an aperture therein formed, the rear retainer 99 being similarly mounted on the'rear plate 91. i

To simultaneously move each of the blocks 84 in the same transverse direction the same amount, a sprocket 95 is keyed to each of the shafts 89, the sprock-ets mounting an endless chain 96. A hand crank97 is keyed to the outer transverse end of the rear shaft 89 for rotating said shaft,- and thereby through chain' 96 rotating the sprocket on .the front shaft. The sub-assembly 80 includes structuremounted for transverse movement that is the same described relative'to the sub-assembly 81 other than that the retainers 96 of the sub-assemblyfifl are mounted in the front side plate 52.

Referring in particular to "FTGURES l and 2, further structure of the c'onveyer belt sub-assemblies 8i) andSl will .be described with reference to the sub-assembly 8h. The sub-assembly 89- includes a driven pulley shaft that has keyed'theretoin'vertical spaced relation, large diameter sheaves 161. The upper and lower ends ofthe shaft 1% are journalled for rotation in the forward end of the mounting plates 82 andf3 respectively. Likewise journalied for rotation in the back ends of the mounting plates 82 and 83 is a pulley shaft 1&2 that has keyed thereto in vertical spaced relation a plurality of large diameter sheaves M3. Each of the corresponding pulley sheaves iii and 163 mounts an endless belt 164. a

Fo each o the su -as emb ies S9 an 8 th u e ru tot the en less be t aft r pas in f vs th pul y sheave 91. exten 'rr arw v an t a v e y in a y slueto the pro-vi on Qf he roo ol 7 o t d diaqent t e rear upr h 33 sa d r ll r a s retaining t halts n verti a sna ed. elat n h p e belts t end on u n l y rea war v e th gov l s- Q ts i diaw t th pri t n t qun e l l eyshe ve 1 T e r l e s 87 a e i u n l ed t n ta iq iint eout r tr n ver dse h re p t e mount- The inner runs next extend forwardly to adjacent the upt 370 o a Over r l s 87- 7 Since the rear portions-of mounting plates '85 and members 82 and 83 of the subassemblies S0 and 81 rearrwardly of uprights 33 areangled in opposing direction, a bag receiving throat is formed,- said throat converging in a longitudinally forward direction (see FIGURE 19) to facilitate the entry of a bag between the subaS6I Ilhli-Qiand 81 after it has been'dropped by the automatic-bag filling scale'machine onto the rearward portion of the t l-trough conveyer.

Gusset former assembly.The gussetforrner assembly '22 includes a carriage 111 mounted for slidably longitudinal movement on a pair of parallel transversely spaced track rods 113 (see 2 4-9, 11 and 17). Each of the rods at one end is secured to the back cross=brace $9 and at the opposite-end to a transverse bar 116 which in turn is mounted on cross brace 53., As may be noted in EIGURE 2, there is provided bellows on each end portion'of each track rod, the one end of each bellows v beingsecured to the cross brace 36 'or the bar 116. The

bellows are provided to keep foreignniaterial off track rods, the opposite endsof said bellows being secured to flange portion of adjacent end of the respective carriage "sleeve 112'for movement Ihqrewith.

'Inrorder, ,to'movethe carriage'in a longitudinal direction I ,(in the direction of arrow 117 or arr0wj118)"onthe aforementioned track rods there is provided a studlshaft 120 secured to the backltran sverse sleeve 112 (see FIGURES '2, 11', and 17). Oneen dof the'linkage arm 121 is pivotally moiinted on the stud shaft 120 While the opposite end pfsaid arn'ris' pivotally connected to the upper endor" the control arm 122. The lower end of the arm 122 is '8, various portions of the cam track to the axis of'the shaft 131 varies; t e c r tq rm 1295b a ed min/e in a longitudinal direction (arrow 111 or arrow 1 18) and thereby wi e the c ntr l arm 7 m t about axis of shaft 123' and move the carriage in the same longitudinal d refltvt 1 f Referring again to FIGURES} ande, it is to be noted that the carriage 111 includes in additiontothe sleeves 112, a transverse; brace135 that is secured at its opposite ends to one end portions of sleeves 11:2 and a second transverse brace 136; that atits opposite endjs is secured to the oppositeends of the sleeves. Mounted inwardly of the sleeves andhaving o ppo site ends secured to" the re spective braces 135 and 136 are a pair of transversely spaced parallel mounting plates 137. An angle brace and horizontal plate138 is bolted to the vbrace 13 6 to extend intermediate the aforementioned 1 38 'moaatin 'pia s and be welded thereto; while a second angle (oppositely raced) and plates are bolted to brace 135.

. limited vertical and longitudinalmovernent relative the keyed to a shaft ,123. that is journalled for rotation in the v open top housing 124 which is' secured to the back side vertical brace 38 land the'in' termediate longitudialbra ce .37 j( see FIGURES 16 and 17,); In order to pivot" the control arm 122 ab'out the axis of the shaft1123, first in the a direction of arrow 12$ andfthen in the opposite direction, o end ofnam p at amaze is pi t v connected to the control arm intermediate'theshaft 123 and the pivotal connection of'the'lin'ka ge 12110 the arm 122. a

As maybe noted in FIGURES 16 and 17 the one end of the operator arn1'1729 ist'secured to the illt l nl diate portion of the control'arm' 122'by the pivotalconnection :127-""'.The'opp ositeend of the control arm haselonga'ted slot llllthronghwhichfbushing 126 extends, said bush g :being mountedjonthecam {shaft 131; which is journaled for rotation inoppo'sit'e vertical wallsof fhousing 124. Ihe camshaft isloca'ted forwardlyv and upwardly of the shaft 123. I 1 I 1 I l] Keyed to the cam shaft is a cam 132,,having a recessed endlesscam track'132a. A cam follower 133 is mounted on the intermediate portion of the operator arm to bear against the cam track132a. Since the radial distance of carriage 'is 'the gussebformer sub-assembly" generally designated 14!}. The sub-assembly: 140 includes a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending bars 141',

' each having an upwardly extending bracket 142 bolted thereto. The structure mounting the gusset former subassembly .for movementincludes a pair of transversely spaced linkage arms'm that atthe'tone ends arewel ded to a "sleeve 147 that has the upper ends of the bracket 142. pivotally'connected thereto by the pivot member145. The oppositeends'ofthe linkage arms 144 are welded ,to the sleeve 150". Atsecond pair of transversely spaced linkage arrns 143 which are mounted for movementparand with linkage arms 144 are at their oneends' pivotally connectedtolower; ends of the respective brackets 142 by pivot 'bolts 1419 having appropriate spacers'154 thereon intermediate members 142 andils. The lopposite ends of the linkage. arms 1'48- are pivotally connectedfat 15210 the loweriend of the depending bra'cl'ret 1 51; The upper ends jof brackets L151 'are welded'jto a bloek 153, each block 153' being welded to the respective mounting plate .137 adjacent the transverse brace 1 36. QA transverse pivot shaft 1G6 is mounted in'aforementioned blocks 153 and the. mountin'g pl'ates' 137; said ing the. sleeve 15,9.

In order to provide rnovement of the gusset former sub-- assembly throughthe structure of the'preceding paragraph,"thelo1wer'end of an arm-156 is welded tothe midportion of the sleeve 150'. outer clevise'd end. of the piston rod 157'ofi'the two way acting piston cylinder cornbina'tion 'l dtl is'pivotally connected atl5sto the'upper end of the arm 156. The cylinder 1 61 'of'the piston cylinder combination at its back end is pivotally connected to the bracket 1'63'byj the pivot 1 6 2, the bracket 163 in turn jbeing bolted to'thebrjacket 164 that iswelded tothe transverse brace 138 ofv the carriage. t V

[Referring now in articnlarto FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, it is to be notedth'at there is provided a' front outside gusset formenlfdd, "inside gusset formersvc'16Tand'168 respectiv'ely located on either transverse side of the former 16 6, fa'fb'ack' outside" gusset former-'lwgand inside gusset formers" 1'71} and "'171ji espectively located on either. transhe 111113 which is keyejdftd the central portionfof the shaft ll 'l i to rotate therewith the opposite ends ofv the shaft being journalled for rotation in the respectiVe slide vmember. 17Svtnat adjustably slidably retained on a Mounted on -the carriage to depend therefrom and for shaft rotatably' mountbar 1 11. Keyed to the shaft 177 intermediate the front bar 141 and the hub 176 is a spur gear 179. A generally U-shaped clamp 180 is mounted on the shaft 177 intermediate the spur gear and the hub to retain the spur gear in a proper axial position on the shaft.

The spur gear 179 drivingly engages a spur gear 184 rotatablymounted on the shaft 185 which has its opposite end portions journalled for rotation in the respective slide member 178 forwardly of the shaft 177. A cam 186 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 185 for movement with the spur gear 184.

On the shaft 185 intermediate the cam 186 and the back bar 141 there is keyed a hub bracket generally designated 19%. The bracket 1% has a pair of spaced outwardly projecting ears 191 for ,rotatably mounting the former hub 192, there being a pivot member 1% for pivotally retaining the former hub between the ears 191. The

in the respective tab but held therein against longitudinal movement, each of the rods 216, 217 extending in a longitudinally forward direction and having a front threaded end portion extending into the internally threaded tab 218 former hub has on one side projecting boss to which the cam follower 1% is rotatably secured to bear against the cam surface of the cam 136, and across fromlthe boss there is an integrally formed radially projecting flange 1925 which has a radial slot; 192s formed therein. The.

former hub 192 also has a depending flange 192a to which the inside gusset former 17d is bolted, the former having a pair of. elongated slots 17% topermit it being secured .to the portion 192a in an adjusted longitudinal position.

hub former 197 when the hub former 192 rotates in one direction. A coil spring 1915a having one end bear against the hub bracket and the opposite end connected to shaft resiliently -urges the former hub 192, to rotate in a direction opposite arrow 78 1.

The outside former 166 is mounted on a shaft 261 and the inside formers 167, 168 are mounted on a shaft 200 by a structure corresponding to the structure mounting the formers 169, 170, 171, respectively on the shafts 185 and 177, other than it is oppositely faced in order that as the lower end of former 169 is moved in one longitudinal directionthe lower end of former 166 will move in'the opposite longitudinal direction and that when the lower ends-of formers 170, 171 are-moved in one longitudinal direction the lower ends of former 167, 168 will move 1 in the opposite longitudinal direction. The end portions of the shaft 2% and 201 are journalled for rotation in respective forward end portion of bar 14-1 but the shafts 200 and 2111 are not free 'to be adjusted in a longitudinal direction relative to the bars 141. The back end portions of each'bar 14-1 has an elongated longitudinally extending aperture 206 through which a bolt for securing a slide block 178 on the outer transverse side of thebar 141 and a'slide member 181 on the opposite side of the bar. Each. slide block 178 has outwardly projecting flange portions that bear against the horizontal surfaces of the respective bar 141. Upon loosening the bolts 20% the slide bars and slide members no longer clampingly'engage the bars 141 and thereafter the shafts 177 and 185 together with the structure mounted thereon may be moved longitudinally relative to the shafts 29d and 201. This adjustment is provided in order to permit the gusset former assembly being adjusted for use with bags of different size bag top openings.

In order to facilitate the adjustment of the slide members on the bars 141 there is provided the adjustment mechanism generally designated 214 (see FIGURES 5-8). Theadjusting mechanism includes a transverse tab 215 mounted on the back end portion of each bar 141. Rods 216 and 217 are journalled for rotation in that is fixedly secured to the respectiveslide member 178. On the back end portions of each of the rods 216, 217 there'is keyed a chain sprocket 219, there being a chain 221) mounted on said-sprockets for simultaneously rotating the sprockets in the same direction. The back end of the rod 217has an end portion 217a to have a hand crank mounted thereon for rotating the rod 217.

After loosening the bolts 208 so that the slide member and slide block respectively form a non-clamping fit with the respective bar 114 and mounting the crank on the portion 217a, upon turning'the hand crank both of the rods 216, 217 aresimultaneously turned inthe same di rection. For example, if the rods are rotated in a proper direction to move the slide members in the direction of the arrow 117 (see FIGURE 6 then the gusset formers I 169, 17tiand 171 would likewise be moved in the same direction away from the gusset formers 166, 167 and 168. After moving the gusset formers M9471 the desired amount, the bolts 208 are again tightened'so that used with bags that have bag tops that in an open condition have a larger cross sectional area than the bags for which it was previously set.

Spacer rods 205 at either end are secured respectively to the front and back ends of the bars 141, and a bar 225 at its opposite ends is secured to the front top portions of the slide blocks 178 for holding the bars 141 and slide blocks respectively in proper spaced relation- I ship. The bar 215 minimizes the bending that would otherwise occur when longitudinally repositioning the slide members 178 on the bars 141.

The structure for mounting the gusset formers 166-171 and the structure for adjustably positioning gusset formers 166-168 and, 169-171 relative to one another having been described, the structure for imparting movement to the respective shafts to which the gusset formers are mounted will now be set forth. The gusset former drive mechanism includes a tie arm 230 that at one end is keyed on the backside end portion of the shaft 2% transversely outwardly from the bar 1411.- The opposite end of the arm 230 has one endof the drive rod 231 connected thereto by a pivot member 232 in spaced relation to pivot member 234 which pivotally connects one end of the tie rod 233 to arm 230. The tie rod-233 extends rearwardly and downwardly to cross a horizontal plane passed through the axes of' rotation of the shafts 2111 and 177 and at its opposite ends is pivotally'connected at 236 to the outer end of the arm 235. The opposite end of the arm 235- is keyed to the outer end of the shaft 177. Thus,- the arm 23% causes the shaft 261 to rotate in one direction while the shaft 177 is rotated in the opposite direction the. same angular'amount.

The opposite end of the drive rod 231 i s'pivotally; con-- nected at 241 to the lower end of the drive arm 240. The hub portion of the drive arm is rotatably retained on the pivot 242 that is mounted on the back side mounting plate 137. Formed integral with the hub portion is an operator arm 243 that extends outwardly at an angle to the drive arm. The opposite end of the operator arm pivotally mounts cam follower 244 that is positioned to follow the cam surface of the cam 246 that is keyed to the cam shaft 247 (see FIGURE 7)." The cam shaft at its opposite end portions is journalled for rotation in therespective mounting plate 137 while the pivot 242 is located at a lower elevation thanthe cam shaft.

In order to rotate the cam shaft 217 there is keyed I thereto a chain sprocket 248 locatedintermediate the carriage and .theback top'brace 36, there being a chain 249; extended. partially aroundthe chain sprocket and at. one

end fixedly'secured to the back top cross brace 391at249a,

and at the opposite end fixedly secured :at 25310 the plate 305 dependingly securedto bar 116 (see FIGURES 2,.3, 11:.and 17.). A'ipair' of longitudinally spaced. sprockets 251.. are mounted on the back carriage .sleeve 112 atfa lower elevation than'shaft 247, one sprocket being 10-. cated oneither side of the shaft 247. The sprocketsare positionedtd engage the. chain for holding it in driving relation with the chain "sprocket 248'. as 'tlreca'rriage is moved-in relation to the. chain}. By moving theca'rriage in one .direction, for example opposite arrow 117, the

sprocket248 .is caused to rotate in'the direction of arrow 25.4(see FIGURES l1 and 17).t'0-ro'tate shaft247.

' Also keyed tothe shaft 2471lbut intermediate'the front side mountingflplate 137. and the. adjacent top brace .isa

camxgnerally designated 260. '(see'fFlGUREd). .The

. camlfiii. includes a cam hub lfilikeyedto the shaft 247.

to rotate therewith, the hubbeing providedwithielofi-x h t me Per pher l, s rta e. f. e camiplate 2 bears" against cam follower 268,,that is rotatably mounted on the outer end of theoperator arm 262; The inner an f e er t arm s formedin e ratw tht e. h b; portion otthe drive arm 271, said hub portion being rotatably retained on pivot member 270that is mounted; onthe frontsi'de plate 137. A coil spring 278' at one endt'is secured q in erm d a e. PQ ZfiQILI i: he drive arm 271 at; 279 and the opposite end is secured to the mounting plate at 28d at atposition upwa rdly a d {OF wardlyotthecoil spring mount 279. The aforementioned/coil spring .resiliently urges the drive arm to rotate: about the axis otthe shaft 27tl in the direction of arrowZiil to retain the cam follower 263 in engagement with the cam plate 262, it being notedthat a secondcoil spring .(not'shown) is likewise mounted on the back side P e net ri a n .0.

One endof the drive rod 273. is pivotallyconnected to the outer endjof. the drive arm 2.71 by a pivot member 272, the opposite endlof the driverod being pivbtally conneetfid; at; 2'75 to theouter .endportio'n of thel'arm 274. The oppositeend of the arm 274 is. keyed'to the end, portion of shaft 200 that extends transversely out wardly from thefro'nt'side bar 141.

Rearyvardly of the; pivot 27.5..and radially outwardly.

of theshaft Zfilflthere is provided a pivot member 283 that pivotally connects' one end of the tie rod. 284.to the arrn274, the opposite end ;ofathe tie rod.being.'pii2otally connected atZfiSto outer endof the. radialarm 286, said radial; 31TH jbeing keyed, tQiShaft .135, Thetie rod: 284 and arms 274 and 236 are mounted to; rotate: shaft 185. nd reetion opposite the;rotationlofthe.shaftZOt).

' It is to be mentioned thateach-of the drive, rods: 231,-

273,andeachof'thetie rods 233,284 are .of a construction that they may be, selectively adjustedgin length. Thus, ifythe position of thejgusset' formers,169 -111yis varied relative tothe longitudinal position of the gusset formers teams, the length of, each of theyrodsf231, 233,. 273 and 284 are likewiwadjusted to be of'an. appropriate lengthso that the gusset formers'will function. in a m r e s l fid e e naft n Swinging guide asremblyr Referring now in particular to FIGURES: 2, l0 and 1 1 and also to EIGURESA, 5 and 17, the swinging guide assembly. generally designated23 will now be described. The swinging guide 12 assembly includes six guide arms 290-295inclusive, the guide arms 2%, 2 91 and, 292; .being mounted 'on the back side of the machine and being longitudinally spaced relative to one another. The guide .arrn293, 294, 295 likewise are mounted in the same longitudinal spaced relation; .however, they are located'on the front side of'the machinetsee FIGURE .'4).' Three horizontal arms296 attheir' mid-portion are connected to lower end of the respective guidearm 290-292 inclusive by a pivot mem: ber 295.8. The inner end of each arm 296 has a generally vertically extending guide plate 297 secured thereto, the guide plates having lower horizontally extending flange 227a formed integral with the vertical portion thereof. Likewise, each of gtheguide arms. 29 329;5 respectively have pivotally connectedthereto by pivot member 228 a horizontal arm'299. Each horizontal arm-299 mounts a guide platelifit) at the end that is most closely adjacent the respective guide plates 297,the plates 300 being oppositelylfaced from-plates-2 7. V

The upperendof guide arm, 290-is clamped on the back end portion of a longitudinally extending rod 302 to rotate therewith, the .backend portion'of the rod being journalled forrotatlon in one endportion ofa plate 3&3. The opposite end of the plate is bolted to a de pending bracket 364 that at; its upper end portion is secured to the adjacent top brace .36, The opposite end portion of the rod 302 isjournalled for rotation in the depending plate 395. Appropriate-spacers 306 are mountedlonthe rod302 to bear against the respective plate 303; and 395 to prevent longitudinal movement of the rod 302.3 f V V V The upper end of the guide arm 291 is clamped on the guide armtube 3&8 whichin turn :is rotatably mounted on the guide arm rod 392. The tube 3&8 is located in-j termediate the plates 393 and 305. and is retained in a given longitudinal position by. spacer members 309, that are mounted on the rod 302. A shorter guide tube 310 is rotatably mounted on the'gu-idetube 308, there being provided spacers 311 for holdingthe. guide tube 319 in a given longitudinalfposition on tube 308 As may be notedin FIGUREII, either end of theguide tube 368 extendslin a directionaxially awayfrom-theadjacent ends of the guidetubesSlQ while the guide rod 302 is elongated; to have eitherend-portion extend axially outwardly'from the adjaeente'ndportions of theguide tube Theguide arms 2 9 3, 294,7and 2 915, other than being oppo l c d. a mountedi nner. s milar to t e: wa in of ui e. a mslwi 291 d .9 t e pn e Qf he g id 1295 be n mped m i 1 .;whi n iw al s f ro tio nia la hat isb l to t e. plate 318 Plate 31 8 is secu'red 'to the front t op brace 36. The opposite end portion'of the.tube 314 is jour-j nalled for rotation ina'plate 305, secured to bar 11a The upper and ra ian 'Qt i e. a mwi c ampe I to the guide tubeiSlSQthat is rotatably mounted on the I guiderod lrl i, whilei the upper end of theguide arm 2 93' is clamped to the guide tubei Sldthat in turn is rota-tably rnounted on the guide tube 315. V

In order "to Tretain: the vertical surfaees of the guide plates. 2 9.7 in general vertical; planeas. the arms 296; are

moved from an out position (shown in dottedlines in FIGURE 10 )."to an'fin." position '(shown in solid lines in; the same. figure),'each offthe arm s 296; atj the end: opposite the respective guide plate is pivotally connected to one end of a cohtrolrod 327;?b'y a pivotmeniberfls. Theio'pp osite end of each control rod is rotatably mounted on a longitudinally extending ,rodl329g lthelfend portion of the rod 329 b'ein'g secured toIplate'303 andiplate 305v respectively. The .hfor'izontal spacing of rods .3102 md .3329 is'thei same, as the s acing or pivot 29l8..and 328,

as thatfron rod 3621c pivot 298.

The outer transverse ends" of the: horizontal arm 299 are each pivotallyv connected at33 1 to the lower end of while the distance tromrod 329.10 pivot328 is thesamei I the respective control rod. 330.. Theupper. ends of the? plate 317 and plate 365 respectively. It is to be mentioned I that each of the control rods 327 and 330 are of a construction to be selectively varied in longitudinal length to thereby properly position the guide plates 2.97, 330 relativeto one another when said guide plates have been i moved tothe posit-ion most closely adjacent each other to have their horizontal flanges bear against a bag top sidewall.

In order to operate the guide plates, for example, guide plates 297 from the dotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 10 to the solid lineposition of the same figure, 1

there are provided plates 336, 337, and 338, each having an aperture at one end portion thereof for mounting the plates on the guide tubes 310, 308 and the guide rod 392 respectively to rotate the respective tubes and rod. An outer radial end portion of each of the aforementioned plates 336-338 is pivotally connected at 339 to one end of the respective linkage rod 349. The opposite ends of each of the three linkage rods 340 is pivotally connected at 342 to the outer end of one of the radial arms 343, 344 and 345 respectively, the other end of the arm 343 being mounted on the guide tube 316, the arm 344 being mounted on the guide tube 315 and the arm 345 being mounted on the guide rod 314. As a result of providing the aforementioned plates 336-338 and arms 343345, when the plate 336 is pivoted to cause the guide arm 232 to rotate in one direction, the arm 343 causes the guide arm 293 to rotate in the opposite direction the same angular amount. Likewise, arm 344 rotates the guide arm 294 and the arm 345 rotates the arm 295.

In order to drive each of the plates'33d-338 there are provided three elongated drive arms 351, each drive arm at its lower end being connected to the outer end of the respective plate by a pivot member 352 angularly spaced from the pivot 339. The upper end portion of each of the drive arms is enlarged and has an elongated rectangular slot 353 formed therein thnough which camshaft 354 is extended, it being noted that the transverse width of the slot is substantially greater than the diameter of the cam shaft. On the upper end of each drive arm there is rotatably secured a cam follower 355 that rides the outer circumferential surface of the respective cam followers 356, 357 and 358. Each of the cams has a hub 356a, 357a, and 358:: respectively that are keyed to the shaft 354 to rotate therewith, and an angular portion 356b,

357b, and 358b respectively that projects radially outi wardly a greater distance from the hub than the remaining portion of the cam.

One end portion of the cam shaft 354 is journalledfor rotation in an upright bracket 360, the bracket being bolted to the angle iron 40. The structure for rotatably supporting the 'opposite'end of the cam shaft will be described hereinafter. 1 g

The hub portion of each of the cams is secured to the cam shaft so that the cams are angularly positioned relative to one another. Due to the configuration of the outer periphery of each respective cam and the angular mounting of the cams on the cam shaft, all of the guide arms are simultaneously moved inwardly to the solid line position illustrated in FEGURE 10 while iirs-t the guide arms 2% and 295 moved outwardly to the dotted line 29 4 are moved outwardly and then the guide arms 292 and 293 aremoved' outwardly. The cam 358 controls movement of the guide arms 2%, 295 while the cam357 conopposite ends of the coil springs being secured to bars 352' which are secured to the casting 376 (see FIGURE 13). The aforementioned coil springs resiliently urge the 1 respective drive arms in a downward direction to thereby i4 insure that cam followers are held in engagement with the respective cams 356-358.

Bag top creasing assembly-Referring now in particular to FIGURES 4, 5 and l21 4 inclusive, the bag top creasing assembly 24 will now be described. For mounting the bag top creasing assembly there is welded to the channel iron 42 a depending plate 375. Welded to one transverse side of the plate to extend rearwardly thereof in a horizontal direction is the elongated casting 376, a sleeve 377 being welded in an intermediate cut-out portion of the casting for journalling the vertical shaft 378 (see FIGURE 13). An elongated vertical plate 331 is welded to the top of the casting to extend ,on either side of sleeve 377. A pair of transversely extending longitudinally spaced spacers 375 at one end are welded to the plate 381 for mounting the short elongated plate 383 parallel to plate 3331. on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis L-L. A short horizontal plate 332 is welded to the bottom edge of the plate 333.

A horizontal plate ass is mounted beneath the casting v the bolts in the blocks, the longitudinalposition of the pulley shaft may be varied due to the end portion of the bolts having threads that form a matching tit with threaded apertures in the shaft through which they are extended.

'On the opposite side of the longitudinal axis L-eL from the castirn 37s a pair of vertically spaced lugs 335 are welded to the plate 375. A T-bracket 396 is welded to the vertical sleeve 398 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 3%7, said pivot shaft being mounted by the lugs 395. A shaft 399 is journalled for rotation inthe vertical sleeve 4% to extend upwardly and downwardly therefnom, the sleeve 4% in turn being welded to the rear edge portion of the T bracket 3%.

Welded to the circumferential portion of the sleeve 40%.

opposite the T-bracket is a tab 4531 that has a slot elon-: gated in a longitudinal direction through which the midportion of the bolt 4%2 is extended. A coil spring 4G4 is positioned on the bolt to have one end bear against the tab and the opposite end bear against a washer and nut 49:3 threaded on the outer transverse end of the bolt. The opposite end of the bolt is welded to the elongated plate 38Il.- Thecoil spring. acting against the tab resiliently urges the sleeve and the structure thereon to pivot about the pivot shaft 397 in a direction of the arrow4il5, the

elongated slot in the tab 491 permitting limited pivotal movement of the shaft 399 about the pivot axis of shaft'397. 1

position of FIGURE 10; next the guide arms 2M and i A plurality of large diameter, vertically spaced sheaves 42th are keyed in vertical spaced relation on the portion of the shaft 399 that extends downwardly beneath the sleeve 49-3. Extended around each of the large sheaves except the lowermost one is a continuous belt 412, each of the belts 412 also being extended around a corresponding sheave 411 that is keyed on the shaft" 334. Likewise,

the shafts 3'73 and 394 on the oppositeside of axis L-L mount the same numberof large sheaves 410 and small sheaves 411 respectively beneath the castiug37o, there being the sane number of belts 412'extended around the sheaves beneath casting 376. As may be noted in FEGURE l2,a transverse spacing W between the adjacent belts as they pass over the sheaves 311 progressively decrease in a direction toward theshafts 3'78, 399, the purpose of mounting the belts so that the inner runs converge in a forward-direction will be set forth hereinafter.

In. order to drive the belts 412, a spur gear 413 .is

keyed to each of the shafts 378and 39? in driving relationsliip with'one another." A chain SPIOCket 414 is keyed on the end ofi'the 1 shaft 378 abovethe spur gear. 413. The structure for driving the chain sprocket will be set forth hereinat ter; r V

Bag. topleiveling assembly-Referring now in particu- I lar to FIGURES. 13, l4,--and 15, the bag top leveling assembly 25 will'inow be described The bag top leveli ing assembly includes a bag leveling sub-assembly generally designated 42S "and a bag top holding sub-assembly 42 51 The. bag'top holding sub-assembly, which will first be'desc'ribed, includes a'pair of transversely spaced elongatedfplate's -33% and 431. A vertical plate 427 is welded I to the cross brace 35"to depend therefrom, plate 427 having spaced horizontal 'tabs42t5 towhich the plates 43hand431"respectively. are bolted to be located on op posite-sides of longitndinal-axis L-L. Horizontal t'ao's 429 likewise are bolted to opposite end 'portionsot plates 436,743.1 tabs429being securedto'the lower end of plate 375. i

1t; linkage 446 and an'opposite end secured to the forward end portion of the mounting plate 431 for resiliently urging the linkage 446 to rotate in a direction=opposite arrow 46% to ireturnit to a datum positionwhen no air under. pressure. is'applied: to cylinder Since the linkages Adi-are pivotally mounted at either end to'structure movable relative to the mounting plate 7 431; there are pr'ovidejd apair of. spring steel members 46 5Jwhich. are mounted .in longitudinally spaced relation ship. One end of each member 465 is bolted to the under 7 side of the mountingplate 431 .while the opposite ends of members 466. are bolted to the' longitudinal bar 4'41 The aforementioned spring steeimembers resiliently retainthellongitudinal bar' 441m predetermined transverse spaced relationship relative to the. bar 4401' i In order to increase the. aforementioned spacing, the aforementioned One end of a generally longitudinally extending feeler v arni ass is pivotally secured at 434 to the mid-portion 1 of the. m'ountin g'plate 430 to -be located '-therebeneath. The feeler arm has an opposite end 433a bent inwardly to extend across the space between the plates 4,30 and 431m position'to abut'against a bag top ofa' bag moving betweenfsaid plaltes;

A micro switch 435 is secured to the mounting plate to depend therefrom, said switch having a pushbutton 437resiliently urg ed to more position and located to abut against the mid-pontion' of the feele'r arm to hold it"in a datum position to be engaged and moved in the direction of arrow 38 to move the push buttonto an ON: position by a .bag being moved between the plates 439 and 431; The switch 436 includes resilient member (not shown) that urges the push button 431 to an OFF movement toward and away from the bar 440; The struc-' ture mounting'bar 441 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced short linkage members 442 each'of which have one; end pivotally retained'in a recess formed in the bar 441' by a pivot 443. The opposite endof each of the linkages 442 is pivotally connected by' a pivot member 445. to the. outer e'ndi'of one leg of a right angle linkage 44613I1d 447 respectively. Each of the right angle 1inkages has/a hub portion that is pivotallyxmounted on a pivot member. .448, the pivot member 443 being secured to theplatej 431 to depend therefrom.

One end of a tie rod 431'tha1t is adjustable in length, ispivotall'y connected at 452 to the outer end of the link of the-second'leg of linkage 447 while the opposite end of said tie rod is pivotally connected at 453' to an intermediate pontion of the corresponding leg of the linkage 446 To therouter end. of the last mentioned leg, the piston rod of a one way acting piston cylinder combination,' generally designated 456,. is pivotally connected at.

457 while the far end of said combination is pivotally connected a|tf458 to an'int'ermediate portion of the transverse bar 459.] The inner end of the transverse bar is bolted to an intermediate 431. v

The pistoncylinder combination upon having air under pressure applied thereto pivots the right angle linkage 446 inthe direction of vthe'arrow 460v about the pivot t-d ththe movement of the linkage .446 being limited by an adjustable stop 461 that is welded to the mounting plate 431. A coil spring 462 has one end secured tothe portion of the mounting plate I piston cylinderzcombination 456' is actuated to move the rightangle linkage in adirection opposite the arrowdii, said combination upon being de-actuated results in the bar Mlflmoving back to the datum position (position of FIGURE 13) due to springs 465 and 462;

An endless belt 469. is extended around the lowermost sheaves 420 on the pulley shaft 399' and has an outer run that is' extended over the .small sheave. 470 that is rotatablymounted on the outer end of thetransve'rse bar 459 to depend therefrom. On the 'forward'end of the mounting plate 431 a sheave 471 is journalled for rotation and 'mounted 'for limited adjustable longitudinal movement relative to said plate. The belt -4;69 is'eX te nded around the sheave 4'71 and ha s the inner run 469a thereof retained in the recessformed in the belt guide 472 which is mounted on the longitudinal bar4411. The belt guide is of al'ength tosextend'subs tantially the longitudinal distance intermediate the-sheaves 471 and Q10.

A second sheave 47-1Jislikewisemounted on the forward end portion ofthe plate 43% to have an endless belt 473 extended therearound and aroundthe lowermost sheaves 410.011 thepulley shaft 378. The inner run 473a'of belt473 is located in a recess formed in the belt gnide' 45 4 which is secured. to the longitudinal bar 430.

Each 'of the belts 4'69. and 473' are of 'athickness' to be located. more closely "adjacent oneanother thanthe-most adjacent vertical edge portion of" the belt guides.

Theibag top holding. subassernbly426 having been described, the structure of the b'agtop leveI' sub 'assembly 425 willv now be set forth (see FIGURES 14 and 15 The sub assembly 425' includes a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending mounting plates 480, the

one. end ofs'aid plates being welded to the upper end of the upright'bracket' 431 which is mounted on the center portion of the 'cross-bra'ce35r The oppositeends of the mounting plates 486 are welded to the bracket 482which in turn is 'bolt'edto the upper endofthevertical plate 375.

Located. intermediate the plate 4st) in depending relatlonship thereto are a pair or longitudinally spaced paral-'- lel linkages'484 .a'nd435. Each of-t'he linkages 4841and 485 at its'upper end is mounted on a transverse shaft'486, Y theitr'ansver'se shafts" attheir respective outer ends being journalled forrotation in the plates 48dr The lower end portion of eachyofthe linkages is pivotally mounted on thejrespectiye transverse s'haft"488,jthere beingia pair of lugs 439; r'nountedion eac'h'end. portion of each shaft 488. I to depend therefrom. A longitudinally extending'horizontal "plate 490m eachie'nd' islocated between a pair of logs 439 and is weldedi'to. said lugs. To. each end portion of the horizontal plate there is bolted a short transverse plate 491,: there being provided spacer 492 on the 'bol t's 4 93for vertically spacing the, plate 491 from;

e p texw -a, 1 r

Thegwebjportion of the-longitudinally extending U- shaped channel beam 495 is welded to thelongitudinally extending bar 49,4,toi depend therefrom, the end'portions of-the bar. 49,4 being welded/to the adjacentsplate '491 to depend therefrom. I V a The depending legs of the beam 425' are located inter- 

3. IN BAG TOP FORMING APPARATUS FOR SHAPING A BAG TOP PREPARATORY TO BE PROVIDED WITH A SEWED BAG TOP CLOSURE, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FRAME, CONVEYOR MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR CONVEYING A FILLED BAG IN A LONGITUDINALLY FORWARD DIRECTION, MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ABOVE SAID CONVEYOR MEANS FOR FORMING GUSSETS IN THE BAG AS IT IS BEING CONVEYED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, SAID GUSSET FORMING MEANS INCLUDING INSIDE GUSSET FORMERS EXTENDABLE INTO THE BAG MOUTH, OUTSIDE GUSSET FORMERS AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID GUSSET FORMERS TO FORM GUSSETS IN THE BAG TOP WHILE THE BAG IS BEING MOVEABLY CONVEYED IN A FORWARD DIRECTION BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LEVELING TH FORMED BAG TOP AND RETAINING IT IN A LEVELED CONDITION AS THE BAG IS BEING ADVANCED BY THE CONVEYOR MEANS, THE LAST MENTIONED MEANS BING MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FORWARDLY OF THE GUSSET FORMING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR OPERATING THE CONVEYOR MEANS, GUSSET FORMING MEANS AND BAG TOP LEVELING AND RETAINING MEANS IN THE AFOREMENTIONED MANNER. 